Get Real vs. Beautiful Thing

You gotta see Beautiful Thing. It rocks.

I agree with most of what you say, but I do have one disagreement. You say Steven easily leaves John. But I feel that it's John who leaves Steven, and that the ending is hard, not easy.

With the realization that their relationship is starting to become known, John panics and begins to distance himself from Steven, lying to his parents about how well they know each other. And while, a few minutes later, John shows affection toward Steven in the locker room, his subsequent physical attack on Steven surely must tell Steven that the relationship is doomed.

I believe it is the realization that the relationship is over -- because John can't handle people knowing he's gay -- that, more than anything else, spurs Steven to come out to the whole school. Sure, there are other motivating factors, but I think Steven's love for John was so great, he would have endured just about anything to keep the relationship going. John ended it, and he did so through his extreme -- and understandable -- insecurity. Finally, from the looks on the faces of those two when they part, nothing about their relationship ending is easy.

Both are great films, and remind me of each other. Get Real had the down ending where A beautiful thing takes the same scenario and gives it the happy "Hollywood Ending" which is common in mainstream movies but rare in gay indy cinema.

I liked Get Real. I liked the relationship between Steven and John. I loved John's scene in Steven's bedroom and I loved the musical score. The coming out speech was not needed. What was interesting in Get Real is that we see two teenage boys trying to discover their sexualities and their attraction for one another. But only one decides to pursue his sexuality and accept it. In Beautiful Thing, both boys decide to stay together.

i like them both as equal...to me both are the same except with different endings.

I liked both of them. The two were similar but I wouldn't compair them. If you go for realism then Beautiful Thing wins out by far. But Get Real doesn't seem to be going for realism. Quite frankly it seems to be going for the average love story. How many realistic straight movies are there? Compare that to how many you like.

I couldn't choose. There are many memorable and tender moments in each film.

Agreed. Beautiful Thing has quickly moved into the category of my favorite movies ever, and Get Real doesn't even come close.